Protector for shoes



Aug. 21, 1934. M. o. FROST PROTECTOR FOR SHOES Filed Aug. 24, 1931 A6090 0. fieosr,

Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE rno'rno'ron ron snoas Application August 24,1931, Serial No. 558,921 5 Claims- (cr es-.12

This invention relates generally to a protector for shoes and particularly to a protector for use in the protection during the manufacture, of such shoes as ladies shoes which are formed of delicate fabrics or expensive skins, in which it is desired to protect the upper and other delicate parts thereof from abrasion or other marring. It is, of course, the usual practice that shoes of the type mentioned, which are formed of delicate fabrics or expensive skins be protected by a suitable cover, which is generally of a rubberized fabricoid type, during the course of manufacture in order to prevent disfiguration or soiling of the shoe. It has heretofore been the practice, however, to form such a temporary covering for the shoe in such a nature that it has been necessary to last the covering over the lasted upper in the same manner in which the upper is lasted. This is, of course, an expensive step, in view of the fact that a skilled workman is required for operating the lasting machine and it is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a covering and a method of applying the same which will eliminate the necessity of lasting the cover over the shoe.

Such covers are usually applied to the shoes after the lasting operations have been completed but before the outsole is laid. The outsole is then laid over the margin of the cover which, for the purpose of securing, is permitted to extend partly across the bottom. The cover is then effective to protect the delicate upper materials during the subsequent operations on the bottom, such as sole laying, leveling, heeling, finishing and polishing. After the completion of those operations, where there is liability of marring the upper, the cover may be removed by cutting around close to the joint which forms the rand crease.

A further object of this invention is to provide a protector in the form of a cover which is pre-formed substantially to size and shape of the shoe and slipped thereover as a sock or envelope.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a protector for delicate shoes in the form of a cover therefor which is pro-formed with a shoe bottom engaging portion so that a shoe receiving envelope is formed which may be secured in position in any suitable manner.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description is read, together with the accompanying drawing, throughout the various views of which like reference characters denote the same parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a protecting cover for a shoe, constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a prospective view of a lasted shoe about which has been applied the cover of this invention.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the cover in its secured relation, or the final step of the process.

Generally stated, in accordance with this invention the protecting cover for the shoe may be pre-formed to size and shape and is particularly provided, not only with a portion for overlying and protecting the upper which is usually of delicate and expensive material, but also with a portion for connecting the edges of the upper protecting portion and which connecting portion is adapted to lie across the bottom of the shoe. Such a cover is preferably pre-formed substantiallyto size and shape of the shoe to which it is to be applied so that the resulting cover is in the nature of an envelope or a sock which may readily be slipped over the lasted shoe. After the covering envelope or sock has been placed in position on the shoe it may be fastened in position in any suitable manner.

Referring now particularly to the drawing for an illustrative embodiment of this invention, the protecting cover may be suitably formed. of a plurality of pieces l2 which respectively form a protecting cover for the opposite sides of the shoe and may be continuous as at 3 to protect the toe portion of the shoe. In accordance with the usual practice the extreme end of the cover is left open as at 4 so that the extreme toe portion of the shoe may project therethrough. The cover illustrated in Figure 1 is in accordance with this invention, preferably pre-formed and may be stitched along the counter portion 5, as well as along the portions 6 and 7, to render the cover substantially of a shoe shape. In accordance with this invention, the edges of the side protecting pieces 1 and 2 are connected together preferably by stitching as illustrated at 8 so as to form a continuous bottom engaging portion in the region of the forepart. It may be pointed out, however, that the edges or flaps 9 of the side pieces 1 and 2 may be eliminated and any other suitable connection provided for extending across the bottom of the shoe. The side pieces 1 and 2 are, in accordance with this invention, each preferably provided with an additional flap portion 10 in the region of the shank, the

purpose of which will be hereinafter pointed out.

With the cover thus formed, a lasted shoe such as 11 may be readily inserted therewithin, the cover being pulled over the lasted shoe as a sock would be pulled on to a foot. It is apparent from Figure 1 that when the cover is stitched as illustrated at 8, an envelope is provided within which the toe portion of the shoe may be inserted. Accordingly the toe portion 12 of the shoe illustrated in Figure 2 may be inserted through the opening at 13 in the region of the cone, and the toe portion moved therethrough between the toe covering portion 3 of the cover and the line of stitching 8 or other connection which is adapted to lie across the bottom of the forepart. After the toe 12 of the shoe has been moved into the position illustrated in Figure 2, the back or counter portion of the cover in the region of the line of stitching may then be pulled over the corresponding portion of the lasted shoe with readiness. These steps result in the relative position of parts as illustrated in Figure 2.

The next and final step of the process which may or may not be employed as is desired, consists in overlapping the flaps along the shank portion of the shoe as is illustrated in Figure 3 and suitably securing these overlapped flaps 10 together. Any suitable device for connecting the flaps 10 may, of course, be employed but in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a strip of gummed paper 14 is applied across the overlapped flaps 10 and has been found effective to retain the flaps in position and the cover upon the shoe. It will be apparent that with a fastening such as the gummed strip 14 secured across the shank portion, which in the case of ladies shoes extends at a substantial angle to the bottom of the forepart, removal of the cover will be impossible without breaking the connection between the flaps 10. Thus an effective fastening is had without the use of expensive elastic materials, such as rubber of which ordinary gaiters and overshoes are made.

with the protecting cover thus applied, the bottom may be laid and the shoe progressed through the factory in the usual manner without danger of marring or soiling the upper mate- 'rials during the succeeding operations.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the invention accomplishes its objects and a cover is provided which may readily be applied to a shoe during the course of manufacture and which may be applied without necessitating the employment of the usual lasting machine which has heretofore been the practice. It is apparent furthermore that the invention is susceptible of many modifications which will present themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof. It is to be distinctly understood, therefore, that such modifications or the use of such individual features or subcombinations of features as do not depart from the spirit of this invention are, although not specifically described herein, within and contemplated by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A cover for a shoe employed during its manufacture and while a last is therein, comprising an envelope shaped to the shoe upper and joined over the bottom at the forepart, said envelope be ing open over the heel part but arranged for closing over the shank after application to the shoe, and means for joining one part of the cover to another part thereof at the shank, independently of the last.

2. A cover for a shoe employed during its manufacture and while a last is therein, comprising an envelope shaped to the shoe upper and closed over the bottom at the forepart, said envelope having loose flaps' arranged to lie over the shank, and means for joining one flap to the other at the shank independently of the last after application of the cover to the shoe, the cover closure thereby being fastened to the shoe without attaching to the last.

3. A cover for a shoe employed during its manufacture and while a last is therein, comprising an envelope shaped to the shoe upper and closed over the bottom at the forepart, said envelope having loose flaps arranged to cooperate, means for positioning said flaps together after application of the cover to the shoe, and adhesive means for joining said flaps.

4. A cover for a shoe employed during its manufacture and while a last is therein, comprising an envelope shaped to the shoe upper and closed over the bottom at the forepart, said envelope having loose flaps arranged to cooperate, and an adhesive strip adapted to join said flaps after application of the cover to the shoe.

5. A cover for a shoe employed during its manufacture and while a last is therein, comprising an envelope shaped to the shoe upper and closed over the bottom at the forepart, said .envelope having loose flaps arranged to cooperate, and an adhesive strip adapted to join said flaps after application of the cover to the shoe, said strip being adapted to be torn for quick removal of the cover.

MYRON O. FROST. 

